The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1887-12-03
VOL. XXIII.-NO. +


themes do not require enough exertion to
be of any effective use They think u
gymnasium is the place where one must
go to spend all his energy, instead of re-
garding itas the place where one is to store
up energy. Let one who raises such an
objection try light gymnastics, and see how
soon he is ready to take breathing spell.
Such an objector, too, is unmindful either
Of the way the apparatus is used or of a
fundamental principle of mechanics. Mo-
mentum is made up of two factors, weight
and velocity; allowing momentum to re-
main the permanent quantity, the greater
the weight, the less the velocity, and the
greater the velocity, the less the weight.
Passing to gymnastics, that term which
corresponds to momentum, is the amount
Of exertion each one is capable of putting
forth with safety, and it is plain that if you
have heavy weights, you must have slow
movements, and vice versa if YOU have
rapid movements you must have light
weights. 1t costs as much effort to move
a light body through the air swiftly, as
1t does to pass heavy one slowly. In
light gymnastics, by which | mean free
hand exercise, wand, dumbbell and club
movements, we give prominence to the idea
of velocity rather than weight, and hence
have lively, moderate exercises instead of
violent, exhausting ones; exercises, which
in addition to bringing up the muscles,
require skill, accuracy, a quick eye and
hand, presence of mind, and self-control;
in brief, which demand vigorous and
complete exercise of all ones powers.
Take almost any piece of the usual
heavy apparatus of gymnasium, its
movements are slow, simple and tiresome,
besides such apparatus is made for the
most infrequently used muscle, and worked
continuously even for short while produce
an undue disturbance of the circulation
and cause WEAKNESS, while the movements
with any piece of light apparatus will
bring at once all the muscles, the longi-
tudinal, the transverse, the oblique into
immediate use Think of the scores of
different attitudes and positions assumed, of
the dashing movements executed, and of
the varied contortions and evolutions made
by every limb and realize how fully it
brings every part into play.
Now, in addition to the great advantage
of sound body and sound health which l
have said ensue from physical culture, 1
wish to speak briefly of some advantages
which come along with these and are not
of minor importance. First, the added
grace resulting especially from our method
of physical culture. The word Calls
themes is very significant, coming from
the Greek word Kalos, meaning beautiful,
iSthenos, meaning strength, beautiful
strength, strength beautifully put into
action, agile, graceful, firm use of solid,
comely limbs. Every graceful movement
tends to make the person executing it more
graceful, and the graceful movements of
wands, bells and clubs are therefore inval-
liable aids in rounding off the angles Of
boisterous youth.
1t teaches the most effective lessons of
self-eontrol. The mind must govern the
body, and every articulation and limb must
be habituated to prompt and ready
obedience to its will. All physical exer-
cises, however pleasant at first, tend to
become irksome and distasteful when pur-
sued systematically day after day, but the
very energy one is obliged to put festh. in
overcoming this distaste is Wholesome
discipline. Let one pursue it with all the
energy and vigor he is capable of throwing
into any other duty or line of conduct, and
by so doing the training OF the will is ad :
ded to the training of the body, and the
self-mastery thus acquired contributes an
important element in the formation of
character
1t teaches exactness. Heels together,
toes outward, knees joined, body erect,
shoulders back; eyes front, mouth shut,
all must be obeyed to the letter. Some Of
the exercises are matters Of the utmost
simplicity, but accuracy and precision give
them beauty and attraction, and interest
increases with the skill of the performer.
When to the precision of mode of execu-
ton, precision of time is added, as when
the exercises are gone through with to a
musical accompaniment, it still further
intensifes and impresses the lesson of
exactness, until the whole frame seems
permeated with the spirit of harmony.
Finally, it inspires selfconfdence, a
self-dependence, and a justifable selfpride,
that makes one desirous of equalling his
associates and raising himself to higher
rank. In short, physical culture, like all
true culture means training, means dis
cipline, means growth, development, i'm
provement and refinement, excellence and
worth. 1t represents care-taking, the
elimination of bad qualities aud the substi-
tuition of good ones, thus leading always to
results that are higher and better.